The Disney Look... to the past! (Jan.22-28)

Here you are this week's look... to the DISNEY past!

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This Week in Disney History: Jan. 22-28

Jan. 26, 2003 - "Jimmy Kimmel Live" debuts on ABC

Former radio host turned television personality Jimmy Kimmel debuted his own nighttime talk show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live," on ABC in 2003. His first guests were actor George Clooney and the band Coldplay, who played a mini concert outside the studio on Hollywood Blvd. In addition to celebrity interviews, the show has featured comedy pieces from Kimmel's cousin Sal Iacono, plus red carpet reports from security guard "Uncle Frank" Potenza and parking attendant Guillermo Rodriguez.

Jan. 24, 2006 - Disney announces the acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios

Pixar Animation Studios originally started as a computer division of Lucasfilm in the 1970s, and has since grown into an animation powerhouse that has produced 11 record-breaking feature films. Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, permanently fused Pixar as a subsidiary in a $7.4 billion all-stock deal in 2006. After the acquisition, Disney•Pixar released "Cars," "Ratatouille" and "Wall-E" - all Academy Award nominees or winners for Best Animated Feature. The film "Up," released in 2009, entered exclusive company with "Beauty and the Beast" by earning the second Oscar nomination for Best Picture given to an animated film.

Also this week in Disney history:

Jan. 22

1964 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones"

2001 - "The Book of Pooh" (television series) debuts on Disney Channel

Jan. 23

1948 - "They're Off" (Goofy cartoon short) debuts

1987 - The Mark V trains debut on the Disneyland Monorail System

1999 - Cirque du Soleil opens in Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort

2006 - Monsters Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! opens at Disney California Adventure Park

Jan. 24

1941 - "Pluto's Playmate" (short) debuts

1993 - Mickey's Toontown opens at Disneyland Park

Jan. 25

1961 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" 

2002 - Touchstone Pictures releases "The Count of Monte Cristo"

Jan. 26

1945 - "The Clock Watcher" (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts

1975 - Flight to the Moon closes at Disneyland Park

Jan. 27

1996 - The first Indy 200 is held at the Walt Disney World Speedway

Jan. 28

1932 - "The Duck Hunt" (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1944 - "How to Be a Sailor" (Goofy cartoon short) debuts

1982 - Wally Boag gives his final performance in the Golden Horseshoe Revue at Disneyland Park

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